WATERLOO – Wilfrid Laurier University is pleased to welcome Philip Marsh to the position of Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Cold Regions Water Science, announced Nov. 14 by the Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of State for Science and Technology.

Marsh joins Laurier’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies after 30 years as a Research Scientist with Environment Canada at the National Hydrology Research Centre in Saskatchewan. During that time, he spent 25 years as an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan where he supervised many PhD and MSc students, including Laurier Associate Professor Bill Quinton. Marsh completed both his master’s and doctoral degrees in geography at McMaster University.

“We are pleased to welcome Philip Marsh as the Canada Research Chair in Cold Regions Water Science,” said Abby Goodrum, vice-president: Research. “As an expert in water science and climate change in Canada’s far north, he brings valuable expertise to the unique interdisciplinary team of world-class cold regions and water researchers at Laurier.”

Marsh’s research has been carried out in Canada’s far north with the goal of understanding water cycle processes and the environmental impacts of climate change and northern energy development. His research has informed policy development at a federal level and helped develop operational models used by Environment Canada. Building on his past work, Marsh’s Canada Research Chair program will use an integrated approach, involving the often separate disciplines of hydrology, ecology, and climatology. Working in existing long-term research sites at Trail Valley Creek and Havikpak Creek near Inuvik, NWT, he will examine the effects of interrelated changes in climate, boreal forest and tundra vegetation, snow, and permafrost on streamflow and lake levels.

Marsh joins two other CRCs in cold regions and water research: Bill Quinton, Canada Research Chair in Cold Regions Hydrology, and Jennifer Baltzer, Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change. Marsh becomes Laurier’s 10th Canada Research Chair. He has also joined the ranks of researchers in the Laurier Cold Regions Research Centre and the Laurier Institute for Water Science.

“Our government remains committed to attracting and retaining the world’s best researchers, creating jobs and strengthening our economy,” said Minister of State Rickford. “Through programs such as the Canada Research Chairs, we are supporting cutting-edge research at Canadian universities and fostering innovation by helping researchers bring their ideas to the marketplace, to benefit Canadians and improve our quality of life.”

In total, $108.9 million is being invested to support 135 newly awarded or renewed Canada Research Chairs, supplemented by $6.4 million in infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Tier 1 Chairs are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields.